Sony HT-G700: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-28
Summary
The HT-G700 is a 3.1 soundbar with a wireless subwoofer that virtualizes height and surround, so the “7.1.2” label describes processing rather than speakers and dense mixes can sound squashed. It has no consumables and no subscriptions, so the only running cost is electricity, and Sony’s own consumption figures were not published in the sources read. It is a good buy at $300 or less, fair between $301 and $450, and weak above $450 unless you specifically want Sony’s virtual processing in a small room.
Common problems and fixes
- No room correction and no graphic EQ — only fixed EQ presets are available, so there is no way to correct the fairly boomy profile for a particular room. Workaround: choose among the presets, including the Voice and Night settings. [1][3]
- Bluetooth is stereo-only and can lag behind TV audio — the bar supports SBC and AAC only, with no aptX or LDAC. Workaround: use Bluetooth for music playback and route TV sound through HDMI ARC/eARC or the optical input. [3]
Parts and consumables
No replaceable parts or consumables reported. Repairability, spare-part availability and official accessory lists were not documented in the sources read, so treat them as unknown. Maintenance implied by the design is limited to keeping the grilles and the subwoofer port clear and applying firmware updates over USB. [3][4]
Yearly running cost
Electricity only. There are no filters, pods, batteries, consumables or subscriptions, and no Wi-Fi means no streaming-service integration. Sony’s mains power consumption and standby figures were not retrieved, so a per-year electricity cost cannot be computed from the available data.
When it is a good buy
At $300 or less the bar is a strong value for a compact system with virtual Atmos and DTS:X, good dialogue clarity and solid music performance. Between $301 and $450 it is fair, and above $450 it is a weak buy unless you want Sony’s virtual processing specifically. For reference, Trusted Reviews listed it under £400 in the UK in March 2021, and the launch price was $599 in mid-2020. The alternative to compare is the Vizio SB36512-F6, which offers true upfiring drivers and was found more convincing than the HT-G700 at a similar price. [2][3][4]